Alameda’s police and firefighters would earn more, pay more under new contracts

Alameda’s public safety unions have signed off on new contracts that could see police and firefighters earning their first raises since 2006 but paying more toward their pensions and also contributing to increases in the cost of their health care coverage.

The contracts, which the City Council is set to consider on Tuesday, would go into effect on June 30, 2013 and remain in place through June 24, 2017.

“This makes dramatic progress on having employees contribute to their own pensions and contribute to their own health care,” City Manager John Russo said of the contract deals Tuesday, adding that wage increases would be based on the financial health of the city.